Patrick
transistor alarm clock



March 10, 1970 A. s. PATRICK Re. 26,817

TRANSISTOR ALARM CLOCK Original Filed Oct. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 SLIPCLUTCH INVENTOR. ALAN E. PA TR ICK Z M aw ATTORNEY March 10, 1970 A. E.PATRICK TRANSISTOR ALARM CLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 2.1964 w T m W" m m 0 v vm w Mm )CA L W Em t (D) v0 OSCI LLATORY ALARM ONINVENTOR. ALAN E PATR/CK 61 4 at? A TTORNEY United States Patent 26,817TRANSISTOR ALARM CLOCK Alan E. Patrick, Statesville, N.C., assignor toGeneral Time Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of DelawareOriginal No. 3,318,084, dated May 9, 1967, Ser. No. 401,058, Oct. 2,1964. Application for reissue Dec. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 698,067

Int. Cl. Gil-4c 21/00 US. Cl. 58-38 11 Claims Matter enclosed in heavybrackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally totimepieces, and in particular to an alarm feature incorporated in atransistorized battery movement.

Most timepieces employ a mechanical oscillator such as a pendulum or ahair spring and balance wheel as the time-measuring device. A clocktrain of known construction responds to the mechanical oscillator,counting and accumulating the total number of cycles of its oscillation.This total is then displayed in terms of time by a pair of hands inconjunction with a dial face.

In the past, the source of energy for maintaining the oscillations ofthe balance wheel has been a wound spring. More recently, with theadvent of small solid state electronic switching devices such as atransistor, a small dry cell (commonly called a battery) or othercompact source of DC. potential has been employed to drive the balancewheel. In this case, a miniature transistor switching circuti is used tomeasure out the power of the cell in precisely timed pulses which drivethe balance wheel in synchronism with its natural frequency ofmechanical oscillation.

In a typical circuit, the power cell and a drive coil are connectedacross the collector and emitter of the transistor. Thus a pulse ofcurrent is sent through the drive coil whenever the transistor isswitched on. A pick-up coil is connected across the base and emitter tocontrol switching of the transistor. Both the drive coil and the pick-upcoil are arranged in magnetically interacting relationship with thebalance wheel. This may be accomlished either by mounting the coils in astationary manner and putting a permanent magnet on the balance wheelwhich moves relative to the coils as the balance wheel oscillates, or itmay be done by mounting the coils on the balance wheel, using slip ringsfor electrical connection thereto, and providing a stationary permanentmagnet so that the coils move relative to the magnet as the balancewheel oscillates. The voltage induced in the pick-up coil during suchrelative motion turns on the transistor. The resulting pulse of currentthrough the drive coil interacts magnetically to impulse the balancewheel and thus sustain its oscillations.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an alarm feature oftransistorized D.C. powered timepiece movements of the type justdescribed. Since the dry cell Reissued Mar. 10, 1970 is the only sourceof power available, it is clear that any alarm will have to be poweredby the electrical energy available from this source. However it will notdo simply to connect some sort of buzzer or bell device across theterminals of the dry cell at the appropriate time, because this wouldcause an intolerable current drain. In transistorized battery movements,it is always a prime objective to keep the current drain as low aspossible so that the battery will last as many months as possible.

In accordance with this invention, the principal objective is achievedin a more acceptable manner, and with much lower current drain, byincorporating a loudspeaker directly in the transistor circuit whichdrives the balance wheel. At the appropriate time, the loudspeaker isswitched in between two circuits points which have a time-varyingpotential difference. The result is an audible loudspeaker sound outputderived directly from the operation of the transistor balanced wheeldrive circuit, to serve as an alarm.

In a preferred form of the invention, the drive and pick-up coils havemutual coupling so that the circuit is inherently a free-runningfeedback oscillator. Each pulse of current through the drive coil isthen an alternating signal of frequency substantially higher than thefrequency of mechanical oscillation of the balance wheel. The advantageof an oscillatory circuit in conjunction with a loudspeaker alarm inaccordance with this invention, is that instead of simply producing aseries of clicks at a repetition rate keyed to the frequency ofmechanical 0scillation of the balance wheel, the loudspeaker producesinstead a tone the pitch of which is determined by the frequency ofelectronic oscillation of the drive circuit. Moreover, in accordancewith further features of this invention, the sound produced by theloudspeaker can be a steady hum at any desired pitch, modulated in adistinctive manner by a lower frequency chopping rate keyed to thefrequency of mechanical oscillation of the balance wheel.

The invention thus briefly summarized will now be described in greaterdetail in connection with the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic mechanical and electrical circuit diagramillustrating an alarm timepiece according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a set of waveform diagrams illustrating the operation of theelectronic circuitry employed in this invention; and

FIG. 3 is a similar but partial schematic diagram illustrating analternative embodiment of the invention in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the essential components of atransistor clock movement operated from a dry cell. The balance wheel 10is mounted for rotary Oscillation in conjunction with a hair spring (notshown) in the usual manner. Dashed line 12 schematicall illustrates thatthe balance wheel 10 drives a clock train 14. The term "clock train" isused herein and in the appended claims, to denote the drive mechanism,or escapement, by which the motion of the balance wheel 10 istransmitted to the gears, as well as the reduction gearing whichreceives this transmitted motion and reduces it to the appropriate speedfor generating a time output, e.g. rotation of minute and hour hands,and/or the rotation of an alarm switch cam 16. For a more detailedrepresentation of a typical balance wheel and clock train mechanismsuitable for use with a transistorized drive circuit, refer to US.Patent No. 2,986,683 of Lavet et al.

The clock train 14 must effect a speed reduction such that the drivetransmitted from the balance wheel 10, operating at 'a typical rate ofabout one oscillation per second, shows up as a speed of one revolutionof the cam 16 for every twelve hours. In this way, the cam 16 is made tooperate an alarm switch 18 once during each twelve hour period as isnormal for alarm clocks. In order to enable the time of alarm actuationto be selected, the motion of the clock train 14 is transmitted to thecam 16 through a slip clutch 20 which enables the cam 16 to be adjustedto any desired time position relative to the clock train 14.

The device further includes an electronic circuit for sustaining theoscillations of the balance wheel 10. Typically such circuits include aswitching transistor 32, a dry cell or battery 34, and a drive coil 36.The drive coil 36 and dry cell 34 are connected in series with theemitter and collector of the transistor 32. A pick-up coil 38 isconnected between the base and emitter of the transistor 32. As thebalance wheel 10 oscillates, a permanent magnet 40 mounted on the wheelsweeps past the pick-up coil 38, inducing a voltage therein. Thisvoltage turns on the transistor 32 and thus sends a pulse of currentthrough the drive coil 36. The magnetic field of the drive coilinteracts with the permanent magnet 40 to deliver an impulse to thebalance wheel 10 which sustains its oscillations. The drive circuit 30as so far described, and its cooperation with the balance wheel 10 andpermanent magnet 40, are already known.

In accordance with the present invention, a speaker is connected acrossthe drive coil 36 by the alarm switch 18 whenever the latter is actuatedby the cam 16 at the predetermined time for the alarm to sound. As aresult, the voltage impressed by the circuit 30 across the drive coil 36during its balancewheel-impulsing operation is also impressed across thespeaker 50, causing the speaker to produce an audible indication whichserves as the alarm sound.

If no further refinements are added to the circuit 30 other than thosealready described in detail, then the audible output of speaker 50 willbe a series of clicks. The permanent magnet 40 sweeps past the pick-upcoil 38 once in each direction, or a total of twice, during each cycleof balance wheel oscillation. The waveform of the voltage which themagnet induces in the pick-up coil during a single balance wheel cycleis shown in FIG. 2(A). When passing in one direction magnet 40 inducesin the coil 38 a positive voltage excursion 51, a negative excursion 52,and another positive excursion 53. When returning in the oppositedirection, it induces the similar but reversed-polarity series ofvoltage excursions 54, 5S, and 56. This sequence of voltages constitutesthe base emitter signal V applied to the transistor 32. Each of thepositive excursions 51, 53, and turns on the transistor 32. Stillassuming no further refinements in the circuit, the resulting outputvoltage V developed across the drive coil 36 is shown in FIG. 2(8). Thisoutput comprises three unidirectional surges 57, 58, and 59corresponding to the V excursions 51, 53, and 55 respectively. Each ofthese output surges produces a pair of audible clicks in the speaker 50.For a typical balance wheel oscillation frequency of one cycle persecond therefore, the audible alarm output 50 would consist of threepairs of clicks per second.

Further in accordance with this invention, however, considerableimprovement in the operation of this transistor alarm clock device canbe achieved in the following manner. As indicated in FIG. 1, the coils36 and 38 are arranged for mutual inductive coupling therebetween. As aresult, there is feedback of the output impressed across coil 36 to thebase input coil 38, and the circuit 30 then functions as a free-runningtransistor feedback oscillator having its own characteristic frequencydetermined by the various circuit parameters.

In addition a resistor 60 is connected in the circuit 30. If thisresistor were replaced by the high impedance of an open circuit, thecircuit 30 would have a sufficiently high Q to oscillate merely inresponse to normal transistor leakage. This would cause the circuit 30to break into oscillation spontaneously, and to oscillate at all times.But from the standpoint of reducing current drain, it would be moredesirable for the circuit 30 to break into oscillation only when it istime to deliver an impulse to the permanent magnet 40 and balance wheel10. The resistor 60 places a low impedance across the coils 36 and 38,and thus loads the circuit down to the point where the Q is too low tosustain oscillation solely in response to transistor leakage. 1.4:. theleakage energy is too inefliciently coupled into the base circuit foroscillations to build up regeneratively, and thus transistor 32 remainsquiescent. Therefore, as long as the resistor 60 is connected in thecircuit and no externally derived signal is induced in pick up coil 38,the oscillator circuit 30 is inoperative.

But when the permanent magnet 40 sweeps past the pick-up coil 38, thevoltage induced therein is sufficient to turn on the transistor 32. As aresult, during the time for impulsing the balance wheel 10, the circuit30 temporarily breaks into oscillation and performs its impulsingfunction with the oscillatory pulses 61, 62, and 63 (FIG. 2(C)) throughthe drive coil 36 in place of the unidirectional pulses S7, 58, and 59.

The resistor 60 need not be connected in the specific place illustrated.Any location in which it serves to lower the circuit Q will serve. Forexample, a resistor of appropriate size may be shunted across the drivecoil 36, or across the pick-up coil 38.

The effect of the oscillatory pulses is to drive the balance wheel 10 inthe same manner, but with certain advantages. The fact that the drivepulses are oscillatory instead of steady means that there is a smalleraverage current drawn from the dry cell 34. Also, the transistor can beso biased that the collector-emitter leakage current drawn by thiscircuit at times t (FIG. 2(C)) is much less than the amplifiedcollector-emitter leakage drawn at the corresponding times t (FIG. 2(B))by a nonoscillatory circuit. Thus for a number of reasons the recurrentproblem of current drain is minimized by the circuit 30.

This change in the bias point to reduce leakage has the effect ofkeeping the transistor more tightly cut off. Nevertheless, the circuitcan be turned on by small values of pick-up voltage induced in the coil38, because as soon as the circuit breaks into oscillation the basedrive fed back regeneratively by drive coil 36 to the pick-up coil 38builds up the output amplitude to a value which is independent of thesignal induced in pick-up coil 38 by the magnet 40 alone. This gives thetransistor clock movement a desirable ready-starting characteristic aswell as greater isochronism. It also enables the pick-up coil 38 to bemanufactured more economically, using fewer turns of a cheaper, largersize wire, which is less subject to breakage.

Another advantage is that the resistor 60 is a more reliable componentthan the capacitor which will be connected in its place in anon-oscillatory version of the transistor clock movement circuit.

In addition, the characteristics of the circuit 30 can be varied asdesired by changing the value of resistance 60. A larger resistancemakes for a clock movement which starts at the slightest motion, but hasa larger current drain, particularly at higher temperature. If theresistance is made smaller some of the ready-starting characteristic issacrificed, but the circuit then has the advantage of lower currentdrain at elevated temperatures.

Even if the ambient temperature goes higher than the range in which theresistor 60 keeps the transistor 32 cut off, the circuit 30 will stillwork properly, although it will remain in oscillation all the time.Moreover, this circuit will continue to function even at temperatures sohigh that a circuit without the resistor 60 would undergo transistorfailure due to excessive amplified leakage.

But the most important advantage of the oscillator circuit from thepresent point of view is the fact that its oscillatory output is idealfor producing a continuous alarm sound when used to drive the alarmspeaker 50. Thus, instead of a few separate groups of clicks per second,this invention enables the alarm speaker 50 to produce a continuous humat any desired pitch throughout the interval when the alarm switch 18 isactuated by the cam 16.

The resistor 60 is connected to terminal 18a of the alarm switch 18. Thealarm switch normally contacts this terminal 18a, and is spring-loadedtoward that position. This normally keeps the resistor 60 connected inthe circuit to make the oscillator 30 inoperative except when it isinteracting with permanent magnet and balance wheel 10. It also cuts outof the circuit the loudspeaker which is connected to the alternativeswitch terminal 18b. However, when it is time to operate the alram thecam 16 throws the switch 18 to its terminal 18b. This cuts the resistor60 out of the circuit, which allows the circuit 30 to oscillate almostcontinuously during the alarm interval. This mode of operation isillustrated in FIG. 2(D). This also connects the loudspeaker 50 acrossthe drive coil 36 so that the oscillatory output voltage developedacross this coil is also impressed across the speaker 50.

As a result, an oscillatory output voltage is generated almostcontinuously by the circuit 30 during the alarm interval and is appliedto drive the speaker 50 to produce a continuous hum as its audible alarmoutput. The continuity of oscillation is interrupted only at times twhen the base is reverse-biased by the signal which magnet 40 induces inthe pick-up coil 38, and at time t;,, when the positive peak induced inthat coil saturates the transistor 32. At all other times t., theabsence of resistor 60 from the circuit allows the circuit 30 tooscillate. Thus, the speaker 50 produces a continuous tone at a pitchdetermined by the frequency of circuit oscillation. The interruptions attimes t and t impart a distinctive modulation to the resulting alarmsound. After the alarm-actuating interval is over, the continued motionof the cam 16 allows the switch 18 to return to terminal 18a, whichtakes the speaker 50 out of the circuit and permits the oscillatorcircuit 30 to return to its normal mode of operation previouslydescribed.

A typical oscillating frequency for the circuit 30 when the loudspeaker50 is not connected across the drive coil 36 would be of the order offour or five kilocycles per second, which is in the audio range, butwhich is not heard quite as loudly as some other frequencies lower inthe audible range. Alternatively, the operating frequency of oscillator30 could be above the audio portion of the sound spectrum during thetime that the loudspeaker 50 is disconnected from the switch 18.Furthermore, the speaker 50 illustrated in FIG. 1 is assumed to be ofthe dynamic type which electrically consists of a coil between itsterminals. The effect of connecting this additional inductance acrossthe drive coil 36 by means of the alarm switch 18, is to furtherincrease the natural operating frequency of the oscillator circuit 30.

In view of these factors, a capacitor 70 is connected across theterminals of the speaker 50 so that it is automatically connected intothe circuit in parallel therewith when the alarm switch 18 is actuated.The effect of the capacitor 70 is to bring the natural oscillatingfrequency of the circuit 30 down below the level to which it wouldotherwise be raised by the inductive characteristics of the speaker 50,and even below the level at which the circuit operates when the speaker50 is disconnected from the alarm switch 18. The capacitor 70 preferablylowers the operating frequency of the circuit .30 during the alarminterval down to about 3500 cycles per second, which is in the frequencyrange to which the average human ear exhibits the greatest sen sitivity.Thus, the effect of the capacitor 70 is to make the oscillator circuit30 operate during the alarm interval at a frequency which produces theloudest possible alarm sound for a given power output.

If it is desired not to operate the alarm during a given twelve hourperiod, the disabling of the alarm mechanism can be achieved in one oftwo ways. It can be achieved mechanically if the slip clutch 20 is ofthe kind that can be declutched so as to leave the cam 16 in anonalarm-actuating position while the clock train 14 continues toadvance. Alternatively, this can be accomplished electrically byproviding a pair of ganged switches a and 80b as shown in FIG. 1. Theseswitches are illustrated in their normal, or alarm-permitting,positions. That is, switch 80b is closed so that the speaker 50 andcapacitor 70 are connected to switch terminal 18b. As a result, when thealarm switch 18 is moved to terminal 18b the capacitor 70 and speaker 50are connected in the circuit for alarm operation. When switch 80b isopened to disable the alarm feature, the capacitor 70 and speaker 50'are disconnected from switch terminal 18b. As a result, they cannot beconnected in the circuit even when the cam 16 moves the alarm switch 18to terminal 18b.

Switch 80a is in parallel across the alarm switch 18. When alarmoperation is to be permitted, switch 80a remains open so that the alarmswitch 18 is effective to connect either the resistor 60 or the speaker50 and capacitor 70 into the circuit. When no alarm operation isdesired, however, switch 80a is closed to short-circuit the alarm switch18. This means that resistor 60 remains connected in the circuit toprevent the oscillator 30 from breaking into oscillation except when avoltage is induced in the pick-up coil 38 by the magnet 40. In otherwords, closure of switch 80a assures normal, non-alarm operation of thecircuit 30 even when the alarm switch 18 is transferred to contact 18b.Thus it will be apparent that to disable the alram feature electricallyit is only necessary to operate a ganged switch arrangement which closesswitch 80a and opens switch 80b.

The circuit 30 of FIG. 1, employing the dynamic speaker 50, is preferredbecause such speakers have a greater tolerance for heat and humidity,and in addition they are cheaper and perform better than other types ofspeakers, such as crystal speakers. In addition, the parallelcombination of the capacitor 70 and speaker 50 provides an excellentmeans to control the output audio frequency of the alarm, as describedabove.

However, if desired, a crystal speaker 150 can be employed in thecircuit of FIG. 3. This circuit is identical with the circuit 30 of FIG.1, except as to certain features which will now be specificallydescribed. Since the crystal speaker electrically consists of acapacitor between its terminals, it has no continuous D.C. path andtherefore may be connected in the circuit somewhat differently from thespeaker 50. For example, it can be connected in place of the resistor 60without thereby putting a DC. path between the base of transistor 32 andthe positive terminal of the battery 34, which would have theundesirable effect of applying cut-off bias to the transistor 32 duringalarm operation.

For this reason the alarm switch 118 of FIG. 3 is connected so that itmoves from its normal contact 118a which connects the cut-off resistor60 in circuit, to its alarm contact 11% to disconnect the resistor 60and connect in its place the crystal speaker 150. The alarm shut-offswitches are a normally open switch a and a normally closed switch 18Gbganged therewith. When these alarm-disabling switches are operated,switch 18% is opened so that the speaker 150 is taken out of the circuiteven when the alarm switch 118 is moved to terminal 118b by cam 16.Also, switch 18021 is closed to short-circuit the alarm switch 118 andkeep the resistor 60 in circuit even when the alarm switch is operated.

What has been described in a preferred embodiment and is presentlybelieved to be the best mode of practicing the invention, but it will beclear to those skilled in this art that many modifications may be madewithout departing from the principles of the invention. For example, insome transistor clock movements that are known, the timemeasuringmechanical element is a rotor which turns continuously in the samedirection, instead of a balance wheel or pendulum or other mechanicaloscillator which moves back and forth in alternating directions.Accordingly this description is intended merely as an illustrativeexample, the broader scope of the invention being stated in the appendedclaims. In particular, since the choice of a particular mechanicaltime-measuring device is not material so far as the present invention isconcerned, this has been described in the claims simply as a mechanicaldevice for performing a periodic movement.

The invention claimed is:

1. An alarm timepiece [including] comprising the combination of amechanical device for performing a periodic movement, a time trainoperating in response to movement of said mechanical device, and meansincluding [a switching] an oscillator circuit arranged to pick up apulsating input from said moving mechanical device and to produce[product] a corresponding output for impulsing said mechanical device insynchronism with said movement thereof to sustain such movement, saidcircuit including an electronic switching device, means in said circuitfor normally maintaining said switching device of} to preventoscillatory operation thereof, and pick up means responsive to saidmovement of said mechanical device to pick up said pulsating input andbias said switching device on at intervals for producing said output forintpulsing said mechanical device, said circuit also including anelectrical-to-audio transducer. said circuit further including an alarm[a time] switch operated by said time train at a predetermined time,[wherein the improvement comprises said transducer and said switch beingarranged to connect said transducer to said circuit to apply voltagemodulated by said pulsating input from said time-train-opcratingmechanical device to energize said transducer pulsatingly in synchronismwith said periodic movement of said mechanical device when said switchis operated] and said oscillator circuit, said transducer, and saidalarm switch being operatively connected to autonmtically bias saidswitching device on to cause said circuit to oscillate and to connectsaid transducer to said circuit to apply an oscillatory electricalsignal to said transducer to energize the same in response to operationof said alarm switch, said pick-up means being operatively connected tosaid switching device for biasing said switching device ofi at intervalsto interrupt said oscillatory signal in response to said pulsatinginput.

[2. An alarm timepiece including: a mechanical device for performingperiodic movement; a time train operating in response to movement ofsaid mechanical device; and means including a switching circuit arrangedto pick up a pulsating input from said moving mechanical device and toproduce a corresponding output for impulsing said mechanical device insynchronism with said movement thereof to sustain said movement thereof;said circuit including an electrical-toaudio transducer; said circuitfurther including a switch operated by said time train at apredetermined time; wherein the improvement comprises: said transducerto said circuit to apply a voltage modulated by said pulsating inputfrom said time-trainoperating mechanical device to energize saidtransducer pulsatingly in synchronism with said periodic movement ofsaid mechanical device when said switch is operated; said circuit beingarranged to make said voltage vary further at least during saidpulsations at least when said switch is operated, whereby saidtransducer then produces an alarm] [3. An alarm timepiece including: amechanical device for performing a periodic movement; a time trainoperating in response to movement of said mechanical device; and meansincluding a switching circuit arranged to pick up a pulsating input fromsaid moving mechanical device and to produce a corresponding output forimpulsing said mechanical device in synchronism with said movementthereof to sustain said movement thereof; said circuit including anelectrical-to-audio transducer; said circuit further including a switchoperated by said time train at a predetermined time; wherein theimprovement comprises: said transducer and said switch being arranged toconnect said transducer to said circuit to apply a voltage modulated bysaid pulsating input from said time-trainoperating mechanical device toenergise said transducer pulsatingly in synchronism with said periodicmovement of said mechanical device when said switch is operated; saidcircuit being arranged to operate so that said voltage further varies ina manner for said transducer to produce an alarm at least when saidswitch is operated] 4. An alarm timepiece [including] comprising thecombination of a mechanical device for performing a periodic movement; atime train operating in response to movement of said mechanical device;and means including an electronic [switching] oscillator circuitarranged to pick up a pulsating input from said moving mechanical deviceand to produce a corresponding output for impulsing said mechanicaldevice in synchronism with said movement thereof to sustain saidmovement thereof; said circuit including an electronic switching device,means in said circuit for normally maintaining said switching device ofito prevent oscillatory operation thereof, and pick up means responsiveto said movement of said mechanical device to pick up said pulsatinginput and bias said switching device on at intervals for producing saidoutput for itnpulsing said mechanical device, said circuit also includanelecttical-to-audio transducer; said circuit further including an alarm[a] switch operated by said time train at a predetermined time; [whereinthe improvement comprises: said transducer and said switch beingarranged to connect said transducer to said circuit to apply a voltagemodulated by said pulsating input from said time-trainoperatingmechanical device to energize said transducer pulsatingly in synchronismwith said periodic movement of said mechanical device when said switchis operated] and said oscillator circuit, said transducer, and saidalarm switch being operatively connected to automatically bias saidswitching device on to cause said circuit to oscillate and to connectsaid transducer to said circuit to apply an oscillatory electricalsignal to said transducer to energize the some in response to operationof said alarm switch, said pick-up means being operatively connected tosaid switching device for biasing said switching device ofi at intervalsto interrupt said oscillatory signal in response to said pulsatinginput, said circuit being arranged to oscillate in such manner that saidvoltage varies at a frequency in the human audible range at least whensaid switch is operated, whereby said transducer then produces an alarm.

5. An alarm timepiece including:

a mechanical device for performing a periodic movement;

at time train operating in response to movement of said mechanicaldevice;

and means including an electronic audio frequency oscillator circuitarranged to pick up a pulsating input from said moving mechanical deviceand to produce a corresponding output for impulsing said mechanicaldevice in synchronism with said movement thereof to sustain saidmovement thereof;

said circuit including an electrical-to-audio transducer;

said circuit further including a switch operated by said time train at apredetermined time;

wherein the improvement comprises:

said transducer and said switch being arranged to connect saidtransducer to said circuit to apply an oscillatory electrical signalmodulated by said pulsating input from said time-train-operatingmechanical device to energize said transducer pulsatingly in synchronismwith said periodic movement of said mechanical device when said switchis operated, whereby said transducer then produces an alarm.

6. An alarm timepiece including:

a mechanical device for performing a periodic movement;

a time train operating in response to movement of said mechanicaldevice;

and means including an electronic oscillator circuit arranged to pick upa pulsating input from said moving mechanical device and to produce acorresponding output for impulsing said mechanical device in synchroniumwith said movement thereof to sustain said movement thereof;

said circuit including an electrical-to-audio transducer;

said circuit further including a switch operated by said time train at apredetermined time;

wherein the improvement comprises:

said transducer and said switch being arranged to connect saidtransducer to said circuit to apply an oscillatory electrical signalmodulated by said pulsating input from said time-train-operatingmechanical device to energize said transducer pulsatingly in synchronismwith said periodic movement of said mechanical device when said switchis operated;

said circuit including means arranged to make the frequency ofoscillation of said circuit such that said signal is in the humanaudible range at least when said switch is operated, whereby saidtransducer then produces an alarm.

7. An alarm timepiece including:

a mechanical device for performing a periodic movement;

a time train operating in response to movement of said mechanicaldevice;

and means including an electronic oscillator circuit arranged to pick upa pulsating input from said moving mechanical device and to produce acorresponding output for pulsing said mechanical device in synchronismwith said movement thereof to sustain said movement thereof;

said circuit including an electrical-toaudio transducer;

said circuit further including a switch operated by said time train at apredetermined time;

wherein the improvement comprises:

said transducer and said switch being arranged to connect saidtransducer to said circuit to apply an oscillatory electrical signalmodulated by said pulsating input from said time-train-opcratingmechanical device to energize said transducer pulsatingly in synchronismwith said periodic movement of said mechanical device when said switchis operated;

said circuit including further means arranged to make said circuitoscillate at a frequency which is lower than normal and is in the humanaudible range when said switch is operated, whereby said transducer thenproduces an alarm.

8. An alarm timepiece including:

a mechanical device for performing a periodic movement;

at time train operating in response to movement of said mechanicaldevice;

and means including an oscillator circuit arranged to pick up apulsating input from said moving mechanical device and to produce acorresponding output for impulsing said mechanical device in synchronismwith said movement thereof to sustain said movement thereof;

said circuit including an electronic switching device and means normallyconnected to cause said electronic switching device to remain off butresponsive to said movement of said mechanical device to bias saidelectronic switching device on at intervals for impulsing of saidmechanical device;

said circuit including an electrical-to-audio transducer;

said circuit further including a time switch operated by said time trainat a predetermined time;

wherein the improvement comprises:

said transducer and said time switch being connected to cause saidelectronic switching device to remain on, and to connect said transducerto said circuit to apply an oscillatory electrical signal modulated bysaid pulsating input from said time-train-operating mechanical device todrive said transducer pulsatingly in synchronism with said periodicmovement of said mechanical device, when said time switch is 0perated;

said circuit including means arranged to make the frequency ofoscillation of said circuit such that said signal is in the humanaudible range at least when said time switch is operated, whereby saidtransducer then produces an alarm.

9. An alarm timepiece including:

a mechanical device for performing a periodic movement;

a time train operating in response to movement of said mechanicaldevice;

and means including an oscillator circuit arranged to pick up apulsating input from said moving mechanical device and to produce acorresponding output for impulsing said mechanical device in synchronismwith said movement thereof to sustain said movement thereof;

said circuit including an electronic switching device, a sufficientlylow D.C. impedance normally connected to lower the Q of said oscillatorcircuit to prevent oscillatory operation thereof, and means responsiveto said movement of said mechanical device to bias said electronicdevice on at intervals for impulsing of said mechanical device;

said circuit including an electrical-to-audio transducer;

said circuit further including a time switch operated by said time trainat a predetermined time;

wherein the improvement comprises:

said low impedance, said transducer, and said time switch beingconnected to cut said low impedance out of said circuit to cause saidcircuit to oscillate, and to connect said transducer to said circuit toapply an oscillatory electrical signal modulated by said pulsating inputfrom said time-train-operating mechanical device to energize saidtransducer pulsatingly in synchronism with said periodic movement ofsaid mechanical device, when said time switch is operated;

said circuit including means arranged to make the frequency ofoscillation of said circuit such that said signal is in the humanaudible range at least when said time switch is operated, whereby saidtransducer then produces an alarm.

10. An alarm timepiece including:

a mechanical device for performing a periodic movement;

a time train operating in response to movement to said mechanicaldevice;

and means including an electronic oscillator circuit arranged to pick upa pulsating input from said moving mechanical device and to produce acorresponding output for impulsing said mechanical device in synchronismwith said movement thereof to sustain said movement thereof;

said circuit including an electronic switching device having input andoutput terminals, a drive coil connected in series with output terminalsof said electronic device, a pick-up coil connected in series with inputterminals of said electronic device, and a sufficiently low resistancenormally connected to at least one of said coils in a manner to lowerthe Q of said oscillator whereby to prevent oscillation thereof, saidpick-up coil being responsive to said movement of said mechanical deviceto bias said electronic device on at intervals for impulsing of saidmechanical device;

said circuit including a speaker of the type including a discontinuouspath between the terminals thereof;

said circuit further including a switch operated by said time train at apredetermined time;

wherein the improvement comprises:

said resistance, said speaker, and said switch being arranged todisconnect said resistance from said circuit and connect said speaker inits place whereby said circuit applies an oscillatory electrical signalmodulated by said pulsating input from said time-train-opcratingmechanical device to drive said speaker pulsatingly in synchronism withsaid periodic movement of said mechanical device when said switch isoperated.

11. An alarm timepiece including:

a mechanical device for performing a periodic movement;

a time train operating in response to movement of said mechanicaldevice;

and means including an electronic oscillator circuit arranged to pick upa pulsating input from said moving mechanical device and to produce acorresponding output for impulsing said mechanical device in synchronismwith said movement thereof to sustain said movement thereof;

said circuit including an electronic switching device having input andoutput terminals, a drive coil connected in series with output terminalsof said electronic device, a pickup coil connected in series with inputterminals of said electronic device, and a sufiiciently low resistancenormally connected to at least one of said coils in a manner to lowerthe Q of said oscillator whereby to prevent oscillation thereof, saidpick-up coil being responsive to said movement of said mechanical deviceto bias said electronic device on at intervals for impulsing of saidmechanical device;

said circuit including a speaker of the type including a continuous pathbetween the terminals thereof;

said circuit further including a switch Operated by said time train at apredetermined time;

wherein the improvement comprises:

said resistance, said speaker, and said switch being arranged todisconnect said resistance from said circuit and connect said speakeracross said drive coil whereby said circuit applies an oscillatoryelectrical signal modulated by said pulsating input from saidtimetrain-operating mechanical device to drive said speaker pulsatinglyin synchronism with said periodic movement of said mechanical devicewhen said switch is operated. 12. An alarm timepiece as in claim 11,wherein: said speaker is inductive; and a capacitor is connected acrosssaid speaker. 13. An alarm timepiece as in claim 10, wherein: saidspeaker is capacitive.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original EDITH C.SIMMONS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

